NASA to Provide Images, Data to Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope

In outer space, Microsoft is stepping up the pace. NASA and Microsoft said Tuesday that the space agency will provide Microsoft with more than 100 terabytes of data and images for use with Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope, the software giant's rival...

In outer space, Microsoft is stepping up the pace.

NASA and Microsoft said Tuesday that the space agency will provide Microsoft with more than 100 terabytes of data and images for use with Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope, the software giant's rival to Google Sky. Only the most interesting content will be added to Worldwide Telescope, including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon. NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. (just a few miles from Google) will actually host the data.

Ames is also developing a suite of planetary data processing tools. These software tools convert historic and current space imagery data into a variety of formats and images of the moon, Mars and other planetary bodies readily available for easy browsing and use by the general public, enabling the creation of enhanced educational tools for students and teachers, NASA Ames said.

"NASA has a wealth of images and data, from the Apollo and Lunar Orbiter missions to Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mercury Messenger flybys," said Chris C. Kemp, chief information officer at Ames. "This collaboration makes it possible for NASA to leverage exciting new Microsoft technologies to make NASA's data -- and America's space program -- more accessible to the public."

WorldWide Telescope will incorporate the data later in 2009, Microsoft said, and feature imagery from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, known as the MRO, plus the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is scheduled to publish its information this fall.